‘Ink Still Wet’ Scheme Seeking Early Career and Emerging Composers in Northern Ireland

The Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble (HRSE) have announced a call for early career and emerging composers to write new works for the ensemble. The ‘Ink Still Wet’ programme will provide composers with commissioning fees and professional development opportunities. 

Note: As this is a PRS Foundation funded initiative, only applicants born or domicile in Northern Ireland are eligible.

For further information, visit www.hardrainensemble.com.

Applicants must send a short proposal, biography and a recent example of work in PDF format, with recordings also accepted in midi format. Applications are open until Monday, 2 September 2024. Successful composers must complete their commissioned works by December 2024.

Four composers will be commissioned through the programme’s two strands. Composers who have previously been commissioned by the ensemble to write duo or trio works may submit applications to compose a new work for the full ensemble. Those composers will receive a commissioning fee of £1,000. Composers who have never been commissioned by the ensemble before can apply to write a new work for solo instrument, collaborating with a chosen HRSE musician.  These composers will receive a commissioning fee of £500. 

Participating composers will have dedicated rehearsals, performances and recordings of their works, as well as receiving season concert tickets and invitations to networking events. 

The opportunity is open to early career and emerging composers from, or living in, Northern Ireland. Commissioned pieces should be no longer than six minutes and instrumentation can include flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, live electronics and fixed media.